The intent of the waterfront commercial zone is to support existing water-dependent uses while also allowing eating and drinking places, temporary lodging and other complementary uses. Compatible light manufacturing is appropriate. Office and mixed use multifamily development are desirable for the future.
(Ord. 14-0391, § 2 (Exh. 1))
The following uses listed in Table A are identified as permitted, conditionally permitted or prohibited uses in the waterfront commercial zone:
Table A. Waterfront Commercial Use Allowances
PERMITTED
CONDITIONALLY PERMITTED
PROHIBITED
Adult entertainment business1
Air transportation service
Auction house
Ambulatory surgery center
College/university
Automotive sales and service, nonmarine
Animal kennel/shelter2
Fire or police facility
Business service, intensive
Arts, entertainment, indoor
Hospital
Cannabis cooperative
Arts, entertainment, outdoor3
Laboratory6
Construction and trade
Automotive sales and service, marine
Regional land use
Family child-care home
Business service, standard
Manufactured housing community
Cannabis business
Manufacturing, heavy
Cemetery, columbarium or mausoleum4
Resource land use
Community residential facility (CRF)
Retail sales, bulk
Day care
Secure facility
Eating and drinking place5
Single detached dwelling unit
Educational service
Utility facility
Funeral home/crematory
Warehousing
Health care and social assistance
Wholesale trade
Laboratory6
Manufacturing, light
Mobile food service7
Multiple-family dwelling8
Office
Park
Personal service
Recreational facility, indoor
Recreational facility, outdoor3,9
Religious institution
Retail sales
Single room occupancy10
Standalone parking10
Supportive living facility
Temporary lodging
Transportation11
Vehicle or equipment rental12
Vehicle refueling station
 
 
Notes:
1
It shall be unlawful for any person to establish an adult entertainment business or to relocate an adult entertainment business within 330 feet, measured from the property line of the parcel or parcels proposed to contain the adult entertainment business to the property line of the parcels containing the uses in this subsection, without regard to intervening structures or objects, of any:
 
a.
Residentially zoned property;
 
b.
Public or private school for general education of any grade K through 12;
 
c.
School bus stop;
 
d.
Licensed day care or licensed preschool facility;
 
e.
Public park;
 
f.
Publicly dedicated trail; provided, however, that the setback distance shall apply only on the south side of the Burke-Gilman Trail, and that there shall be no setback on the north side of that trail due to the separation provided by Highway 522;
 
g.
Sports fields or playgrounds;
 
h.
Recreation or community center;
 
i.
Religious institution;
 
j.
Public library.
It shall be unlawful for any person to establish an adult entertainment business or to relocate an adult entertainment business within 500 feet of another adult entertainment business, measured from the property line of the parcel or parcels containing the adult entertainment business and the proposed adult entertainment business.
2
Provided:
 
a.
No burning of refuse or dead animals is allowed;
 
b.
The portion of the building or structure in which animals are kept or treated shall be soundproofed. All run areas, excluding confinement areas for livestock, shall be surrounded by an eight-foot solid wall and surfaced with concrete or other impervious material;
 
c.
Outdoor runs shall be prohibited on properties adjacent to residential zones; and
 
d.
The provisions of Chapter 18.70 KMC relative to animal keeping shall be met.
3
Outdoor activities shall be at least 50 feet from adjoining residential zones and lighting shall be directed away from adjoining residential zones. Hours of operation may be restricted to ensure compatibility.
4
Limited to indoor columbariums and mausoleums only.
5
Social card games, as defined by this title, are prohibited.
6
Laboratories that must comply with special containment procedures for large quantities of hazardous materials are subject to a conditional use permit.
7
Provided:
 
a.
No permanent fencing, walls, or other structures shall be installed which hinder removal of the structure from the site, unless the structure is permanently permitted.
 
b.
No required parking stall shall be blocked or rendered unusable as a result of the mobile vendor.
 
c.
Safe ingress and egress shall be maintained. Visibility for transportation and pedestrian access shall be maintained.
 
d.
The limited duration of the mobile vendor shall be established as a condition of approval of any applicable permits.
 
e.
A sign permit is required for exterior signage in accordance with the sign code, Chapter 18.42 KMC.
8
Allowed only as part of a mixed use development subject to the conditions of Chapter 18.50 KMC.
9
Campgrounds and RV parks shall not be permitted.
10
Standalone surface parking lots for vehicles, boats or boat racks shall not exceed 10,000 sq. ft. in size.
11
Only passenger transportation uses shall be permitted (no trucking or towing).
12
Equipment rental is prohibited.
(Ord. 14-0391, § 2 (Exh. 1); Ord. 16-0421, § 2 (Att. A); Ord. 16-0426, § 5 (Att. C); Ord. 19-0481, § 2 (Exh. A); Ord. 24-0607, § 2 (Exh. A(XV)); Ord. 25-0631, § 2 (Exh. A))
The following zone-specific development standards in Table B apply in the waterfront commercial zone:
Table B. Waterfront Commercial Development Standards
STANDARD
REQUIREMENT
Base Density: Dwelling Units/Gross Acre1
48
Maximum Density: Dwelling Units/Gross Acre1
72 du/ac2
Street Setback
10 ft.3
Minimum Interior Setback
20 ft.4
Maximum Height
40 ft.
Maximum Impervious Surface: Percentage
90%
Notes:
1
Sleeping units are calculated as one sleeping unit equals one-fourth dwelling unit.
2
This density may only be achieved through the application of residential density incentives or transfer of density credits in mixed use developments. See Chapter 18.80 KMC.
3
Fuel pump islands shall be placed no closer than 25 feet to street front lines.
4
Required on property lines adjoining residential zones.
(Ord. 14-0391, § 2 (Exh. 1); Ord. 16-0428, § 13 (Att. I); Ord. 25-0631, § 2 (Exh. A))
A. 
Where the waterfront commercial zone abuts a residential zone, the city manager may require additional landscaping pursuant to Chapter 18.35 KMC, blank wall treatments pursuant to Chapter 18.52 KMC, and/or measures to address building mass and bulk pursuant to KMC § 18.52.310 and/or 18.52.330 in order to mitigate impacts of new development on neighboring residential areas. Native vegetation is preferred for these screening treatments.
B. 
Drive-through service is permitted as an accessory use. Drive-through service shall be oriented to the side and/or rear of the building, and integrated into the exterior wall. Drive-through lanes shall not be located between the street and the main pedestrian access to the buildings.
(Ord. 14-0391, § 2 (Exh. 1); Ord. 16-0428, § 13 (Att. I))